The Social Network (2010) PG13 - 4 Stars

Always on the cutting edge of technology, I've been a geek for social networking for 26 years. For 8 years in the 80's, I ran Zola's Pleasure Palace BBS (bulletin board system) a social network alive before the Internet was born. Complete with 1200 baud modems, and a 386 computer, communicating via modem has been a way of life for me. I've had friends like Mark Zuckerberg, the youngest billionaire in history but alas, I've always "Missed it by that Much." But this is also why I don't really see how connecting people through a medium is such a new idea. I think the Harvard Winklevoss brothers were trying to make more of a dating site. How can he loose a case where he never sat at a computer with these brothers or stole their programming techniques and I don't believe paperwork signed. There were no copyrights or nothing registered so maybe they won their case purely due to Zukerbergs lack less and eccentric attitude with the system.

If the movie is true, Zuckerberg seems to have almost an autistic side, where his brain is in constant pragmatic problem solving and he doesn't realize what's said comes out so damming. I feel Zuckerberg had pent up technology, lurking inside of him, eager to form something big he could wrap his potential worthiness around. If these twins were like the brothers shown on film, the social network, Facebook, would have become just another MySpace or dating service. I don't think they were capable of taking it to the level that Zuckerberg has. However, I did feel for Zukerbergs friend Billy and Eduardo Saverin as it got so big so fast, greed set in quickly. I was also surprised to learn Napster founder Sean Parker, was connected.

Ideas float around all the time, aka Zola's Pleasure Palace, and it takes those with much more creative drive and passion to take it to it's fullest potential. Facebook has changed the way the world communicates today. Details of our lives and places we have been are now public knowledge leaving little left to say in person. We now hide behind our computers so we don't have to have intimate relationships with each other. While the fast growth of technology becomes essential and exciting, it could become the downfall of society too.

The story....

In 2003, Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), was an undergrad at Harvard with so much programing technology churning in his head he's about to burst. Constantly thinking technically, he loses the one girl Erica Albright (Rooney Mara), that was close to him. To retaliate, he blogs untruths about Erica and along with Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), and a bunch of beer, hacks into the database of schools, downloading pictures of female students. In a few hours, he creates "FaceMash.com", which compares the attractiveness of female students, side by side. A couple of Harvard rowing twin brothers Cameron Winklevoss (Armie Hammer Jr.), and Tyler (Josh Pence), are impressed with what he has done. They invite Zuckerberg to their dorm though he can not pass through their front door. They want his help setting up their idea of Harvard Connection. But Zukerberg has bigger ideas of his own and begins working on a site covering a larger audience of colleges. He approaches Eduardo with his idea to create a network just for college students. Eduardo gives him the $1,000 needed to bring the idea to reality. As Zukerberg creates and tests this new social medium, the popularity takes off, and quickly becomes a major success. When the Winklevoss's find out they are furious that Zukerberg stole their idea. They quickly take it up with the college dean and when that does nothing, hire an expensive attorney. Saverin and Zukerberg popularity grows introducing them to Christy Lee (Brenda Song), who introduces them to former Napster founder Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake). Parker quickly helps the idea grow far into the Silicon Valley and the Winklevoss's are not pleased, hiring an attorney to stake the fair claim.

Awards include:
2010 - Academy Award Nominee
2010 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Original Score
2010 - National Board of Review - Best Actor
2010 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Picture

Scott Rudin Productions, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
Director: David Fincher
Writer: Aaron Sorkin
Producers: Dana Brunetti, Scott Rudin, Michael De Luca

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